Page 15 of Your Fan Forever

YipYip.

Nip stood at the bottom of the stairs behind Valentine. She was covered in leaves and dirt. She attempted to jump up the steps, but tumbledbackwards.

Nipgroaned.

“Oh Val.” Calliesaid.

She went to the bottom of the stairs and scooped Valentine in her arms. She carried her back up, Nip close on herheels.

“Don’t worry. You won’t be little for long.” She kissed her nose as she cleaned the dirt out of herfur.

I looked down atNip.

“You are no help.” He stared up at me andbarked.

We all walked back into thehouse.

“Breakfast will be ready in an hour,” Calliesaid.

She retrieved the steak from thefridge.

“I’ll be back in an hour. You needanything?”

“No, justdon’t…”

“I know.” I held up my hand. “No more telling people we’re engaged until afterAspen.”

“Thankyou.”

“You’re welcome.” Inodded.

She rolled her eyes atme.

I grabbed her from behind and held her to me while attacking her neck withkisses.

“Noah.” She squirmed in myarms.

Both Nip and Valentinebarked.

“See. You’re upsetting the children.” The little dogs jumped around at ourfeet.

“I’ll be right back.” I kissed her cheek and headed toward the frontdoor.

I felt better. She was tired. It was like when I switched from college to the pros. In my rookie season, we’d played twelve games. My body was a wreck and we still had four more games togo.

Last year, Callie and I were lounging on a beach in the south of France. What a difference a yearmade?